My Best of 2025

You know those car rides home from work where you’re a bit disassociated and all the sudden you’re home…and you can’t really remember even driving the car? I honestly feel like that was 2025. Anyone else? 🫠

I had an amazing time but as I reflect on the year, it really was one of the quickest years yet. Is it because I disassociated?! Who can be too sure. Anywho, it only feels right to capture some of the best memories, travels, stories, and accomplishments from my year. I usually make a reel (who doesn’t love a good song to some fun videos) but the whole point of this blog was to actually write it down, expand a little bit, and have an outlet to share so that’s what I am doing! From new cities, to epic weddings, to reconnecting with old family friends…while 2025 had its moments (yall ever cried in an uber or stormed out of one??) … overall it was chef’s kiss 💋 I lived, laughed, and left every event by 930pm.

Let’s start with two of my favorite events of 2025:

1. My brother got married!

2. My best friend got married!

Did I mention those weddings were two weeks apart? And because of work, taking the full month in the states just wasn’t an option so it was back to back overseas flights. But let me tell you, I’d do it 10 times over for those people and those weekends celebrating their love.

DJ & Lauren got married in the beautiful, Carillon Beach, FL. That week was nonstop fun. The welcome party, the boat day on crab island, the rehearsal night, and the wedding itself were all one big party. This was easily one of the best weeks of 2025 and was the first time ever I legitimately was bummed to hop on a plane back to Europe because I wasn’t ready to leave the family yet! Gained a beautiful wonderful sister in law and had uninterrupted quality time with my family. 10/10.

My lifelong bestie, Carlaine, married her twin flame, Sarah aka Scoot! I flew into Reno and reunited with the rest of the crew, Annie & Mia, then we made our way up to Convict Lake! Another 10/10 weekend filled with laughs, reminiscing, celebrating, and feeling extremely lucky to have friendships that withstand all of life’s chapters and seasons.

Explored some new places…

New Visited Cities - Milan, Siena, London, Rovinj, Reno, Convict Lake, Pisa, Bari, Alberobello, Lake Bled, Chioggia, Ascona, Seville, Split, Dubrovnik, & Zadar

New Visited Countries - England , Croatia & Slovenia

And yes… I recommend them ALL.

But Croatia was my favorite 🤭

33rd Birthday in Tuscany

I love a good birthday and one thing about me,

I am going to celebrate it. I am not sure what was more fun… planning this weekend or the actual execution. The anticipation over the months prior was insane! This was most definitely a highlight of 2025 - spending my birthday in Tuscany with two of my besties. Despite a few set backs (Piper being personally victimized by jacuzzi jets, a gnarly seafood risotto, and getting yelled at for being late for a dinner rest in Italian) it was the most perfect weekend that I replay in my head often. We stumbled upon wineries on small farms, rode the Tuscan hills in the mini coop singing to Megan the stallion, and genuinely had the most perfect birthday.

Other Fav Highlights

• Mom & Dad Euro Trip 2025

Through Croatia, Czech, Spain, & Italy! Spending 3 weeks with my mom and dad was so much fun. They are actual troopers and low maintenance travelers so that makes for a huge W when it came to the itinerary I built for us. The highlight of this trip was going back to Rota to visit some old family friends and visit where my parent’s story began.

• Girls Trips!

When I first took command at Aviano, I was so nervous I wasn’t going to have a close group of friends and would spend most of my time alone. I was very very wrong. The girl gang here is strong! I have leaned on them so much in 2025 and we’ve taken some really some fun trips to Switzerland, Milan, and Croatia! I’ll always be grateful for these women.

Alright let me wrap this up! If 2025 taught me anything, it’s that growth can show up loudly, sometimes unannounced, occasionally with sore legs and emotional plot twists. I pushed myself in ways I didn’t see coming (like running a marathon… still processing that) and learned what I’m no longer willing to carry…unfinished talking stages, forced connections, and versions of myself that were trying too hard to be what I thought others wanted.

In between it all, I explored new cities, celebrated the milestones of people I love, and said yes to moments that reminded me how full life can feel. I stayed close to my family, leaned hard into my friendships, and came home to a very cute cat who witnessed every high and low. It wasn’t perfect, but it was honest and that made 2025 an amazing year. I’m heading into 2026 lighter, stronger, and more sure of what belongs with me and what’s staying behind. Cheeeers! 🥂💛🌻